Gustave frantz lyon



2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

G. F. LYON.

HARP.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAVE FRANTZ LYON, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

HARP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,804, dated November 12, 1895.

Serial No. 547,405. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUsrAvE FRANTZ LYON, a citizen of France, and a resident of Paris, in the Department of the Seine, France, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Harps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that type of harps wherein a double set of strings are used, and has for its object to provide a novel, simple, and durable construction of sounding-board, whereby the latter is firmly supported against the strain or pull of said strings.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a novel means for damping various strings throughout the two sets, whereby the much-desired glissando movement is greatly simplified, and, finally, the invention consists in arranging a suitable damper between the two sets of strings in such a manner that all the strings in both sets may be simultaneously damped or hushed.

To these ends the invention consists in the features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a harp in elevation, the part of the frame comprising the sounding-board being in section, so as to show the interior thereof and Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line Ato K, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a crosssection of the frame, taken on the line L M, Fig. 1. Fig. l is a front View of the sounding-board and dampers. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section showing one of the damper-keys and its operating mechanism in side elevation. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the sounding-board, taken on the line N 0, Fig. 4.

The manner of arranging crossing-strings in this type of harps is as follows.

The strings c of the first set are arranged in one plane slightly inclined to the vertical line of the harp, Figs. 1 and 2, and give the notes for the scale of 0 natural, and the strings c of the second set are arranged in another plane and give the flats or sharps. The strings of the sets 0 and 0 cross each other, as shown in Fig. 2. In this manner the harpist when playing the instrument in the ordinary manner has under his right hand, in the upper part of the instrument, the notes of the scale in the key of 0 natural, while under the left hand, in the lower part of the instrument on the other side of the vertical line of the harp, are these same notes, while a chromatic scale can be played by a glissando movement over the strings at the part where they cross. The sharps or flats are played by the right hand in the lower part of the instrument and by the left hand in the upper part. The strings can, however, be arranged so that the reverse of this is the case. The distance of a string from that givingthe semitone above or below (which will be in a different plane of strings) will be about half the interval between the strings in ordinary harps, and I select the point of intersection of the planes of the two sets of strings, so that when they are caused to vibrate together no jarring sound, owing to their touching each other, is produced. To prevent this j arring,the planes of the two sets of strings should not cross midway,where the maximum vibrations occur, but more toward their upper or their lower ends. It will be understood that the same hand can sound notes at will-either naturals, sharps, or flats according as the strings are touched above or below the line of intersection of the planes of the two sets of strings. Vith this arrangement of crossed strings each string may correspond to a different note, and if, for example, there are eighty-five strings there will be eighty-five notes that can be played from such strings.

The method of attaching the crossed strings in my improved harp to prevent undue strain on the string-boards also constitutes a feature in the invention and is effected in the following manner: Vithin the frame I of the harp are fixed two parallel boards 2, carrying hooks or catches, to which the lower ends of the strings are attached. Each string then passes through a hole formed in the sounding-board H and its two covering-strips C, the upper ends of the strings being wound round tuning-pins 4, attached to the neck, one set of strings starting from the strip 0 on the right side of the harp and extending upwardly across the frame to the left side of the neck and the other set starting from the strip on the left side and extending up to the right side of the neck. In this manner the sounding-board H, instead of being raised, as in the sounding-boards of ordinary harps, to which the strings are directly attached, is merely compressed in an upward direction. The sounding-board thus plays the part of the bridge of a piano. This device for protecting the sounding-board is necessary in a harp constructed according to my invention, as the said sounding-board would have otherwise to resist a strain at least twice as great as in ordinary harps.

Each of the boards 2 is strengthened and made rigid by means of metal straps or cords L, Figs. 1 and 2, fixed to both ends of the said strip and bearing at their center on a bridgepiece M, so that each strip forms, as it were, a trussgirder.

As the strings of a harp constructed ac cording to this invention are arranged chromatically, a damper, as used in pianos, is necessary. The said damper, which is common to all the strings requiring it, consists of a pallet or board 5, Figs. 1 and 2, turning on trunnions 6, mounted in bearings, fixed the one on the sounding-board and the other on the pillar g of the harp. The reverse sides of the said pallet are provided with strips of felt or like material, which bear against both sets of the strings when the damper is turned on its trunnions, which movement may be imparted by means of a pedal 7, to which is at tached a cord 8, situatedwithin the pillar g, Fig. 2, the upper end of the said cord passing over antifriction-rollers 11 in the pillar g and a small pulley 10 on the lower trunnion G and terminating in a spring attached to the pillar g. hen the pedal is not depressed, it is kept in its raised position by the tension of the spring, and then the damper 5 is in a vertical plane between the two sets of strings and out of contact with either of them. When the pedal is depressed, the cord 8 is drawn down, causing the damper 5 to be partly rotated in its bearings and the felts to bear on both sets of strings, and this position is retained until the pressure is removed from the pedal, or the damper may be so arranged that in its normal position it is always against the strings, and is removed therefrom by depressing the pedal.

In order to obtain, on a harp constructed according to this invention, an effect much used by artists, which is obtained by a glissando movement, I provide an arrangement consisting of keys provided with dampers, as shown in detail in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. In this arrangement the damper of the keyboard is formed of twelve rods 2?, seven being on the side of one set of strings and five on the other. The said rods, arranged one over the other, are situated on the sounding-board H and can slide along or between the wood strips 0, which are employed for strengthening the sounding board where the strings pass through them. These metal damper-rods can slide one on the other and are retained in position by means of screws passing through oblong holes. To each rod 7. leather fingers 61 are attached corresponding to a string 0 of each octave. Each rod by its sliding motion can act as a damper to all the strings corresponding to Cfor example,all the C strings and merely the contact of the finger d prevents the corresponding string vibrating in a glissando movement.

Each rod is set in motion by a corresponding button B, mounted 011 a rod K, connected to a lever D, attached to a spindle x g and by the partial rotation of the said spindle movement is imparted to the tappet A. The latter passes through a slot in the rod 75 of corresponding width, being capable of oscillating in the longer slots of the other rods. A spring R bears against the rod K, keeping it in its forward position with the washer b against the sounding-board II. In. this position the fingers d of the rods 2? are removed from the strings c, which. strings are only touched when the buttons 13 are pressed, so that the washers I) catch behind the nose of the spring-catch 0, which keeps the fingers on the strings.

The spring-catches r are mounted on a rod T, which by means of a button can be moved in the direction of its length, so as to disengage all the rods K, which by the springs R remove the fingers d of the rods from the strings.

It will thus be understood from the foregoing description of the latter part of my invention that should the artist desire to perform a glissando movement through. various keys, which. would necessitate the damping of certain strings, this damping can readily and efficiently be obtained by pressing upon a certain key or keys B, which represent the various octaves, and by the action of the dampers d certain of the strings will be silenced or damped, and the remaining strings on being swept by a glissando touch will emit the tones of a harmonic chord.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim 1. In a harp, the combination with the frame thereof, of a hollow sounding board connected to the frame, a pair of string-supporting boards located within and secured to the hollow sounding board, abridge or bridges located intermediate the ends of the boards, and strengthening cords or straps fixed at their ends and passing over said bridge, substantially as described.

2. In a harp, the combination with the frame thereof provided with a double set of strings, of a damper located intermediate said sets of strings, and means for bringing said damper into contact with each set of strings for causing a simultaneous damping thereof, substantially as described.

3. In a chromatic harp, the combination with the frame thereof, of a double set of strings, a rocking damper located intermediate the sets of strings and having its ends applied to any desired string or strings, and a push button for operating said rods, substantially as. described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAVE FRANTZ LYON.

Witnesses:

GEORGES DELORN,

)LYDE SHROPSHIRE. 

